Brief Description:

The workshop will run entirely online from March 9 –November 23, 2026. This virtual workshop is designed to guide speculative fiction writers through the first draft of a novel.

Anticipated time commitment:

Weekly classes on craft, genre, and process, starting with your existing draft or outline. Approximately 2 hours per week.
Monthly one-on-one meetings with Karen Lord to help fine-tune your approach and keep you on track. Approximately 1 hour per month.
Reading and preparation for giving and receiving feedback on your cohort's writing. Variable.
Plotting, drafting and revising your novel. Variable.
Community interaction with your cohort. Variable.

For a complete course description see the website.

Description:

Applications are open October 13 - November 13, 2025.

Instructions:

Please create a username to begin your application to the Novel Writing Workshop.
The application takes 35–40 minutes, not including preparing your writing sample.
You don't need to complete your application in a single sitting—you can save your progress and return to finish it later.
Clarion West charges a nonrefundable, sliding-scale application fee in US dollars. Applicants can choose the amount that best fits their budget. Alternatively, reach out to Clarion West staff to request a fee waiver.

Please note:

The application period closes on November 13. You must submit your application by 11:59pm Pacific Time on November 13. No exceptions can be made, even for partially completed applications.
Autogenerated captions and transcripts will be provided for all class sessions. Need a live translator or captioner to attend the workshop? Contact us as soon as possible, even if your application is not complete. This gives us time to seek grant funding.

If you have questions about the novel writing workshop format or schedule, visit our website or email helpdesk@clarionwest.org

Begin Accepting Applications Date:

10/13/2025

Deadline Date (PST Time Zone):

11/13/2025 11:59 PM